Ochsner Magazine November/December 2022

Strength in Numbers

Ann, Patrice and Deidra share more than friendship as professionals, patients and cancer survivors at Ochsner.

Also In This Issue:

• The Alton Ochsner Society celebrates its 40th anniversary and first lifetime member (page 4)

• Why Ochsner’s Pediatric Family Assistance Fund made all the difference to the Bonaventure family (page 14)

• How the Big Health Event is educating the public on health and wellness (page 16)

Dear Friends ,

I’m so grateful to write to you as Ochsner Health’s new CEO. I’ve had remarkable opportunities over the last decade serving in several executive leadership positions across our organization, and I couldn’t be more energized to lead Ochsner into the future. My time at Ochsner has brought me to all corners of our geographic footprint and allowed me to lead many talented teams. Each of those opportunities gave me inspiration and deep admiration for the remarkable work happening here each day. I am confident that the stories included in this issue will leave you feeling inspired, too.

Some of the amazing stories shared include spotlights of three Ochsner heroines—Ann Heslin, Deidra Dudley and Patrice Stanford—who joined our team with a shared mission to positively impact patient lives. But along the way, all three women found themselves on the receiving end of care, navigating difficult cancer diagnoses while continuing their transformative work at Ochsner. Their stories show how the generosity of our donors and the talents of the Ochsner Cancer Institute, Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center and our entire organization change and save lives—including those of our own colleagues.

In this issue, you’ll also see how our legacy and history are positioning us for a stronger future. The Alton Ochsner Society, named for one of our founders, Dr. Alton Ochsner, supports innovative solutions that improve the patient experience. One initiative supported by the Alton Ochsner Society is the Chemotherapy Care Companion program, which provides enhanced communication and monitoring for patients undergoing chemotherapy. The results of the program are incredible, and I hope this story sparks new ideas to improve the lives of our patients.

Our team is thrilled to share news of a tremendous gift from Robert J. and Debra H. Patrick, which will allow Ochsner to build the first freestanding neuroscience facility in the Gulf South. One in six people will need neurological care in their lifetimes, and the community need for these services is significant. The Patrick family’s generosity will support our patients and community for generations to come.

Ochsner’s impact and mission go beyond traditional healthcare. I hope you enjoy our stories including free screenings and health education in our community, caring for the spiritual needs of our team and patients and touching lives through our Pet Therapy Program. These are just a few glimpses into what we can do together.

Your support has made what we’ve shared in this issue—and so much more— possible. As we near the end of our 80th anniversary, I am honored to lead this team and am confident that our next 80 years will be our best yet.

Pete November CEO, Ochsner Health

Foundation Board

Gayle

Benson

Robert Boh

Miles P. Clements

Tommy Coleman

Joseph R. Dalovisio, MD

Frank C. Dudenhefer, Jr. William B. Emory

Calvin Fayard, Jr. Gregory D. Flores

Paul H. Flower

Tommy Fonseca Sarah G. Freeman

Wilmer “Bill” Freiberg

Marcel Garsaud

Lee L. Giorgio, Jr. John M. Hairston

Desiree R. Harrison

Tara C. Hernandez

Todd B. Johnson

John Kennedy

Margaret L. Laborde

Chadwick Landry Michael J. Maenza

Steve Nathanson

Lori K. Ochsner

Sue Roy Karen T. Stall

Pamela Steeg

Catherine Burns Tremaine Norris Williams

To see more stories like these, please follow us on Facebook

We’d like to hear from you !

Please send comments to philanthropy@Ochsner.org

See this magazine and all our archives online at: ochsner.org/magazine

Browse other projects made possible by donors at: ochsner.org/donorimpact

Gratefully,

Ochsner Executive Leadership

Pete November

Chief Executive Officer, Ochsner Health

Robert I. Hart, MD, FAAP, FACP

Chief Physician Executive and President, Ochsner Clinic

Michael Hulefeld

President and Chief Operating Officer

Tracey Schiro

Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Administrative Officer

Scott J. Posecai

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Denise Basow, MD

Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Health Officer

Leonardo Seoane, MD

Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer

Associate Vice-Chancellor of Academics, LSU Health Shreveport

Interim Chief Executive Officer, Ochsner LSU Health System –North Louisiana

Professor of Medicine, University of Queensland

David M. Gaines

Executive Vice President and Chief External Affairs Officer

Corwin Harper

Senior Vice President, Chief Growth Officer

Jeffrey Fernandez

Senior Vice President, Population Health and Chief Executive Officer, Ochsner Health Plan

Deborah Grimes System Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer

Ochsner Magazine

Lea Witkowski-Purl Maida Jones

Editors

MarketSmiths Content Strategists, LLC

Victoria Cooper Custom Publishing Editor

Amy Schraub

Art Director

Cover photo by Daymon Gardner

This photo was taken in the entryway of the Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center in New Orleans, where Ann, Deidra and Patrice were all treated for gynecological cancer, breast cancer and lymphoma respectively.

In This Issue

Pet Therapy Program Spreads Joy

Volunteers provide comfort thanks to donor support.

Healing Through Spirituality

The Spiritual Care program offers guidance for patients in need.

A New Era for Sports Medicine at Ochsner

Ochsner provides cutting edge orthopedic care thanks to a new partnership with Dr. James Andrews.

New Community Health Center Opens Doors

Historic Health Center in Lafayette has been newly renovated.

Delicious Alternatives to Alcoholic Drinks

A new zero proof cocktail book from Ochsner Eat Fit offers thoughtful, healthy recipes.

Announcing the New Patrick Neuroscience Center

With a generous gift from the Patrick family, Ochsner moves forward with state-of-the-art neuroscience facility.

Fueling Hope in Unexpected Ways

Donor support of the Patient Assistance Fund changed the life of one artist.

A Legacy of Giving: The Ochsner Society’s 40th Year

The Alton Ochsner Society continues to provide access to funding for the most innovative projects at Ochsner Health with its first lifetime member

By George Menz | Photos: Staci Brimer

Alton Ochsner, MD, was one of the five founding members of what later became Ochsner Health. He dedicated himself to supporting the health of the Gulf South region—and America as a whole, having authored the first paper definitively linking cigarette smoking to lung cancer. Across the span of his career, he performed 20,000 surgeries, published close to 600 papers and trained 300 surgeons.

Above all else, Dr. Ochsner believed in centering patients. “In this hospital,” he said, “the patients and their families come first.” Today, donations by members of the Alton Ochsner Society support the Excellence Fund, an unrestricted fund which provides support for new projects and initiatives that will improve patient care. As the Society celebrates its 40th anniversary, it also celebrates the addition of its first lifetime member: Bill Kearney.

Welcoming Bill Kearney

Bill’s relationship with Ochsner began at birth. “My mother decided that’s where she wanted me to be born,” Bill said. “I make the choice for Ochsner to be my healthcare provider for all the things I do. Some people look at it as a client-healthcare relationship. I view it as something much deeper.”

Bill grew up in uptown New Orleans and some of his acquaintances and

playmates were the children and grandchildren of Dr. Ochsner. This lifelong link to Ochsner is what led Bill to become the first lifetime member of the Alton Ochsner Society. In fact, he had no idea he was making history: he just wanted to pay back the organization that had been such a huge part of his life, providing him care since the very beginning of his life.

“As a result of my connection and what Ochsner means to our community, when the opportunity came up, I said: that’s who I am. I didn’t know I was the first person,” Bill said. “I just instinctively said, that’s what I want to be, that’s something I want to be a part of, in recognition of what Ochsner means to me, to the city and to the state”

The Excellence Fund

Bill’s contributions to the Excellence Fund support care that falls outside what specifically dedicated funds can offer. “We don’t know exactly what a patient is going to need, or what we can innovate and do that is going to save and change lives,” said Louisa Post, a Director of Development in Ochsner’s Philanthropy Department. “By having an unrestricted fund, we can support things that are really important but don’t have a fund.”

The Excellence Fund is available for almost any purpose that will improve patient care and any member of the Ochsner community—from doctors to nurses to business professionals—can submit proposals. “The decision to

Bill Kearney is the first lifetime member of the Alton Ochsner Society.

support a proposal is based on how much a project will improve patient care and delivery and whether or not the project could be funded through departmental funds or the annual operating budget,” Louisa said.

Dr. Ochsner sought to build a community that would confront illness with the patient’s needs in mind and the Excellence Fund aims to further every aspect of Ochsner’s mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate. The Society’s vision statement reads: “We will shape the future of healthcare through our integrated health system, fueled by the passion and strength of our diversified

team of physicians and employees.”

The patient is at the center of everything the Alton Ochsner Society supports. “The projects will be prioritized in terms of how they will affect the lives of our patients,” Louisa said. Among the life-changing initiatives they’ve supported is the Neurosciences Medical 3D Lab, which uses 3D printing and virtual and augmented reality technologies in the service of clinical care delivery: patients gain a deeper understanding of their conditions and doctors can practice complex surgeries in a virtual environment.

In 2021, the Excellence Fund supported

(continued on page 6)

Thank you to the members of the Alton Ochsner Society for your generosity. The annual unrestricted gifts of Ochsner Society members guarantee that lifesaving treatments, excellent medical education and innovative research will always be available at Ochsner.

STAKEHOLDERS ($10,000-$24,999)

Mr. Dick H. Piner, Jr. Louie and Sally Roussel

PARTNERS ($1,000-$4,999)

Mr. Emanuel V. Benjamin III

Ms. Mary Theresa Benson

Ms. Dorothy M. Clyne

Mr. and Mrs. James Dagnon

Mr. and Mrs. Gustave A. Fritchie

Ms. Celeste Goodson

Mr. and Mrs. James Gundlach

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory J. Hamer, Sr.

Mr. and Mrs. John Crawford Hope III

Mr. Michael W. Kearney

Mr. William Kearney IV

Mr. and Mrs. David McKinney

Mr. and Mrs. John McLean

Mrs. Gilda H. Moore

Dr. Pat O’Brien, PhD

Ms. Crescentia Pennock

Mr. and Mrs. Etienne Senac

Tom Snedeker & Emery Clark

Ms. Susan Ann Swanner

The Honorable and Mrs. Jacques L. Wiener, Jr.

LEADERS ($5,000-$9,999)

Mr. Robert S. Boh Sarracenia Foundation, Inc.

SUPPORTERS ($500-$999)

Mrs. Ann B. Bailey

Mr. Paul L. Benenati

Mr. John C. Blitch

Mrs. Frances Caccamise Boudreaux Dr. Aden A. Burka

Carpenter Management Co., Inc. Mrs. Sally T. Duplantier

Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Ferguson, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Ward A. Howard

Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Lajaunie Dr. Joseph L. Lindsay III Mrs. Arlene J. Manguno

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen D. Manshel Mrs. Louise B. Moore

Mr. Donald Osborne

Mr. William R. Picard II Ms. Cheryl Roan

Mr. Edward P. Schnauder Dr. John L. Smith

To learn more, please scan this code.

Bill said he didn’t realize he was making history with his lifetime gift during the 40th anniversary of the Alton Ochsner Society.

Alton Ochsner Society

59 innovative projects. Among them are the Functional Restoration Program, the Chronic Pain Education project and the Aging in Place: Dementia Care project. Each project offers patients and caregivers the support and resources they need.

In past years, the fund supported projects which enhanced both patient care and professional resources for Ochsner staff. This versatility is essential, as new ideas often aren’t covered by existing funds and may need special attention in order to flourish.

The bedrock of the community

For Bill, Ochsner doesn’t just provide healthcare: it provides the community with strength and resilience. “If you look at the bedrock of any community, it’s about med and ed—medicine and education,” Bill said. “On a fundamental basis, we wouldn’t have a thriving society if not for Ochsner.”

The Excellence Fund provides a resource for community members to support patient care on that fundamental level.

“I think people who donate to the Excellence Fund want to give back because they love Ochsner and they trust us to make the best decisions for patients,” Louisa said. Ochsner’s longstanding presence in the Gulf South community gives it a special place in the hearts of New Orleanians and residents of the Gulf South region.

Speaking to those interested in giving back to the community, Bill asked them to consider which causes give back to the community every day. “If Ochsner isn’t chief among them, I don’t know what is.”

Excellence Fund Supports Chemotherapy Care

Among the remarkable projects that draw on the Excellence Fund is the Chemotherapy Care Companion program. The program closely tracks patients undergoing chemotherapy, using questionnaires and monitors to identify and address side effects of chemotherapy treatment. While it began with a focus on high-risk patients, it soon expanded—and, with the assistance of the Excellence Fund, it expanded even further.

Thanks to a 2020 Excellence Fund grant, today’s Chemotherapy Care Companion program encompasses all chemotherapy patients at Ochsner and donor support to the Ochsner Cancer Institute covers the cost. With over 450 patients enrolled to date, we’ve found 90% satisfaction with the program and 70% patient compliance. What’s more, preliminary data shows that the program has reduced total emergency room visits and admissions by a third. All in all, it’s

shown remarkable results.

With results like these, it’s no surprise that Ochsner has received the 2022 Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) Innovator Award, offering national recognition across print and news media: a full-page announcement in ACCC’s official journal Oncology Issues, a dedicated listing on the ACCC website, an appearance on the Association’s podcast, blog and articles in ASH Clinical News, The Advocate and Modern Healthcare.

The Chemotherapy Care Companion program is just one example of the work that donations like yours make possible. The Excellence Fund exists to identify and support these efforts, continually enhancing patient care and advancing healthcare for our community and our region. It’s a legacy that would make Dr. Ochsner proud.

To hear Bill in his own words, watch this video.

Lifting Spirits with Pet Therapy

How Ochsner’s Pet Therapy program is helping both patients and staff heal

By Olivia Watson

From the moment therapy pets walk through the doors of Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans, the mood noticeably changes. “People across the facility stop in their tracks when they see us—asking to pet my dog Dixon, hug him, or even take selfies. He’s the perfect height for our pediatric patients to get face-to-face with,” said Alison Soileau, System Vice President, Patient Experience and Service Excellence. “Faces light up with joy.”

Ochsner’s growing Pet Therapy program primarily offers visits at Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans, but also has pet therapy teams at Ochsner Baptist Medical Center and in the Baton Rouge, North Shore and Lafayette regions. The Ochsner Pet Therapy program works with several local and national certification programs that are available to train owners and their dogs to become certified pet therapy volunteers. The dogs include many breeds—from whippets and greyhounds to beagles, pugs and golden doodles. Their number one responsibility? To bring joy to Ochsner’s patients, staff and everyone in between.

Brenda Hale, Pet Therapy Volunteer Coordinator, has led the program’s growth in recent months after retiring from Ochsner as Supervisor of Guest and Volunteer Services earlier this year. She couldn’t resist the opportunity to continue to be involved with the pet therapy volunteer teams. “Being a part of this program is incredible,” she shared. “It was originally started for patients— but these animals help everyone at the hospital.”

This past October, the program hosted a blessing of the pets and participated in the annual Pediatric Halloween Parade. The pets dressed up in costumes of their own, as children trick-ortreated in the presence of furry friends.

Brenda is keenly aware of how donor support to the Pet Therapy fund continues to create impact. “Donations ensure the Volunteer Pet Therapy program can continue to flourish at Ochsner and meet the rising demand for pet therapy visits. It has already helped with recruitment of new pet therapy teams—almost a dozen new teams are expected to join this year,” she shared. Donations have also supported the program’s growth by covering certification costs and membership dues. Most recently, it covered branded water bottles and bandanas for the pets.

“There’s so much potential here—a little goes a long way,” Brenda said. And it’s a price worth paying to see this community’s joy.

To learn more about Ochsner’s pet therapy, watch this video.

System Vice President, Patient Experience and Service Excellence Alison Soileau and daughter, Cassidy Soileau, handler in the Visiting Pet Program with their dog Dixon at Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans. Photo: Stephen Legendre

Cher and Clarence the dog visiting employees at Ochsner Medical CenterNew Orleans on August 12, 2022. Photo: Beth Burris

Strength in Numbers

Celebrating three inspiring women for their resilience, optimism and dedication to their Gulf South community amid difficult diagnoses and treatments

By Olivia Watson | Photos: Daymon Gardner

For Ann Heslin, Deidra Dudley and Patrice Stanford, Ochsner Health is more than a workplace—it’s a second home. Pulling into the employee parking lot at their respective campuses every morning is an opportunity to change people’s lives.

“Being a part of the Ochsner family is a blessing,” Deidra shared. With their combined experience, Ann, Deidra and Patrice have served the hospital for over three decades.

But along the way, all three women found themselves on the receiving end of care—navigating difficult cancer diagnoses. Suddenly it was their turn to heal. “Instead of parking at the employee entrance, I pulled into patient parking,”

Patrice said. “That moment was jarring.”

Up against unexpected diagnoses and treatments, these inspiring women continued to show up for others: working from home, coming in for shifts in between treatment and returning to work with a deeper sense of empathy for the patient experience.

“Until you’re diagnosed with cancer and undergo treatment,” Ann shared, “you don’t fully understand how the rest of your life will be impacted.”

Navigating difficult diagnoses

While every patient experience is unique, Ann, Deidra and Patrice share a similar recollection of their diagnoses—

particularly how difficult it was to tell their loved ones.

“Nobody wants to learn they have cancer of any kind,” Patrice said.

“Unfortunately many people associate it with death.” That’s why when Patrice was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2012, a type of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system, she decided to keep the diagnosis to herself for several weeks.

“I didn’t want anyone to worry, so I put my uniform on in the morning and pretended I was going to work,” Patrice shared.

After talking with her doctors and forming a treatment plan, Patrice was ready to tell her loved ones. “I gathered my immediate family at my mother’s

Deidra Dudley, AVP-Nursing at OMC-West Bank

Ann Heslin, Director of Philanthropy Events

house, and told them the day before I was due to start chemotherapy.” Already aware of the top-tier care she would receive at Ochsner, she asked her family not to cry—but to remain hopeful.

Deidra made a similar choice when she felt a lump in her left breast in 2013, and was later diagnosed with breast cancer in her left breast and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in her right.

“My husband and I decided together

if a recent procedure had left her with burns. But something inside her told her it was more serious.

“My father died of skin cancer and I feared I had cancer too,” Ann explained. “But when my dermatologist thought I had a sexually transmitted disease, I started taking an aggressive course of antibiotics and steroids.”

As the pain worsened over the next few months, Ann could barely

arises when faced with treating one of our own—these are our friends, family and coworkers, so there is a profound emotional connection,” said Brian Moore, MD, Director of the Ochsner Cancer Institute.

“You feel the urgency and anxiety your friend is experiencing, and the risks are clearly visible, not just for your team member, but for their families and the team itself,” Dr. Moore said.

that it would be best if we didn’t tell our three sons until we knew my treatment plan,” Deidra said. “When we did, which in my case was chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy and breast reconstruction, we had a family call and reminded my sons this was just a bump in the road—one of those hills you have to overcome together.”

For Ann, the path to a diagnosis was more complicated. After experiencing intense pain on her labia in January 2021, Ann wondered

walk. Nothing was helping. Finally, her dermatologist urged her to get a biopsy for vulvar cancer, a rare gynecological cancer that would require radiation and chemotherapy in her case. This cancer later spread to one lymph node.

“My dad had a very short cancer journey—five months from diagnosis until the day he died,” Ann said. “When I told my family, everyone was extremely concerned, but there was relief in finally knowing what was wrong.” The journey ahead would be difficult, but Ann’s instinct about her body was right.

Experiencing Ochsner’s care from the other side

Despite different diagnoses and treatment plans, Ann, Deidra and Patrice all had to adapt to their new lives as patients. So did their fellow colleagues.

“There is a complex mix of emotions that

But at Ochsner, all patients are part of a larger family. “We pride ourselves on treating all of our patients as if they are our friends, family members, co-workers or neighbors,” he shared. “So we run our regular playbook—we strive to address their needs, treat (and ideally cure) their cancer, ease their suffering and alleviate their anxieties comprehensively, quickly and compassionately.”

So began Patrice, Deidra, and Ann’s journeys, as patients and professionals at Ochsner.

As the Patient Access Representative and Medical Assistant at Ochsner Baptist, Patrice was used to coordinating appointments for cancer patients. “I was the one scheduling chemotherapy appointments for our patients,” Patrice said. “Next thing I knew, I had to make it on time for my own chemotherapy appointment.”

Over the course of seven months, Patrice received intense treatment before moving to Ochsner’s outpatient program. “Every single person that took care of me was amazing,” Patrice said. “It warmed my mind, body and spirit when it dawned on me that I had done the same for my own patients for so long.”

Eager to get back to work, Patrice hoped she could resume her role immediately following treatment. But her doctors advised her to rest, recover and strengthen her immune system before returning to the hospital—especially after a particularly aggressive form of cancer.

“While I had to take time off work, Ochsner allowed me to come back to the same department when I was ready,” Patrice said. “Once again they demonstrated their commitment to me as a patient and a professional.”

Patrice Stanford, Patient Access Representative and Medical Assistant at Ochsner Baptist

“ Until you’re diagnosed with cancer and undergo treatment, you don’t fully understand how the rest of your life will be impacted. ”

— Ann Heslin

Strength in Numbers

Deidra also felt the support of Ochsner throughout her treatment cycle, at a time when she was the director of multiple nursing departments. “I came to work

acupuncture at the Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center, oncology yoga, pelvic physical therapy, nutritional support and more.

“ When a newly diagnosed breast cancer patient arrives at the hospital, my staff notifies me and I go sit with her. I listen to her fears, I hold her hand and I tell her a story about what I overcame. ”

— Deidra Dudley

Thursday morning, got my chemo in the afternoon, returned for a shot to help my white blood cells on Friday and then rested all weekend,” she said. On Monday morning, she was back alongside her colleagues.

“If I didn’t feel too good on Monday morning, I would sleep in and come a little later,” Deidra explained. “My team lifted me up, filled in the gaps when I couldn’t be there and distracted me from worrying about my cancer.”

During the same period, Deidra was also studying for a comprehensive exam to achieve a Doctorate Degree in Nursing from Louisiana State University Health Science Center. Ironically, the focus of her study was the quality of working life for registered nurses. She successfully completed the exam and defended her dissertation.

Like Patrice and Deidra, Ann also underwent chemotherapy, managing Ochsner’s stewardship and cultivation events for major donors from her laptop at home as the Director of Philanthropy Events. “I had chemotherapy every Monday for six weeks, and radiation Monday through Friday for six weeks,” she said. “I was exhausted but determined to keep doing what I love.”

Ann also leaned on many of the wonderful resources available to cancer patients at Ochsner, including

“It has been a tremendous experience to get back on my feet after such a traumatic experience, with so much support from Ochsner on my side,” she said.

Inspiring hope

by sharing their stories

Today, Ann has been a cancer survivor for one year, Patrice for nine years, and Deidra for 10 years. They all agree their lives have forever changed, as well as their sense of purpose.

“I want to share my story with other women,” Ann said. “I want to bring awareness to reproductive cancer and remind women that if you know in your heart that there is something wrong, trust your gut.”

Already immersed in the world of philanthropy, Ann knows how impactful just one donation can be. “As the holidays approach, I encourage anyone who has the means to consider end of year giving and much-needed funding for GYN cancer research, Ochsner’s survivorship programs and beyond.”

This cause is so important to Ann, she has already left part of her estate to the Ochsner Cancer Institute and dedicated a

plaque on the Rita and William Mitchell, MD, Donor Wall in the Benson Cancer Center to all GYN cancer patients.

Patrice firmly agrees. “My passion is to always give back—to this hospital, the patients, cancer services and beyond,” she said. “One of the ways I can do this is by offering my time as a volunteer, and showing up for the community that was there for me during my time of need.”

On a daily basis, that means listening to patient concerns. “Now I know what their bad days feel like, experiencing side effects from cancer medication and chemo,” she shared. “I tell them what I went through and share some hope with them.”

It’s why Patrice also continues to donate to the employee and patient funds at Ochsner.

Deidra couldn’t agree more with her fellow colleagues and survivors. “I believe that everything happens for a reason— and my purpose is to share my story with other people and remind them of their strength.”

It is a profound experience to live out Ochsner’s mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate only to become a patient yourself. But for these compassionate women, it’s more than profound—it’s a privilege to pay it forward.

“When a newly diagnosed breast cancer patient arrives at the hospital, my staff notifies me and I go sit with her,” Deidra shared. “I listen to her fears, I hold her hand and I tell her a story about what I overcame.”

“ I was the one scheduling chemotherapy appointments for our patients. Next thing I knew, I had to make it on time for my own chemotherapy appointment. ”

— Patrice Stanford

To see Ann in her own words, scan this code to watch a video

Solace for the Spirit at Ochsner

Spiritual care is an essential part of the healing process—and Ochsner’s spiritual care program offers guidance for patients in need

By George Menz | Photos: Beth Burris

When we find ourselves in moments of darkness, it’s natural to look for the light. Ochsner Health recognizes the impact and comfort that spirituality and religious faith can have during a patient’s recovery. The Spiritual Care Services Team at Ochsner hospitals embrace Ochsner’s mission to support patients in all aspects of their healing.

“Ochsner has a 360-degree view of people, and spirituality is a big part of that,” said the Rev. Dr. Megan Alleman, Board Certified Chaplain and Supervisor of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). “How do people make meaning of their life? How do people find community? These are all really important parts of the healing journey.”

Megan’s journey to Ochsner began shortly after completing her own training to become an educator of chaplains. Trained in Oklahoma, she came to Ochsner looking for a healthcare system whose mission dovetailed with her own goal of expanding spiritual care.

“I was looking for a place that would match my values,” Megan said. “A big reason I came to Ochsner was because they really wanted to be a part of that vision and very quickly allowed me to expand the program to meet the needs of clergy all over the states of Louisiana and Mississippi.”

In her role as CPE supervisor, Megan is able to witness the various journeys chaplains can take toward becoming spiritual care providers. As Megan shares, every chaplain has their own story of how they end up where they are.

One chaplain, the Rev. Tiffanie Lyon, has a remarkable story of becoming inspired and feeling a calling to ministry as a vocation

after working in business. She then became a licensed local pastor and pursued a master’s of divinity. During her last year of the program, her senior pastor suggested that she take a unit of CPE. On the second day of her full-time internship, she realized: “This is what I want to do.”

Her experience with CPE was transformative, and she soon enrolled in a CPE residency. She worked at Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and graduated with her master’s degree in June 2020. It was then she decided to dedicate herself to working as a hospital chaplain and accepted a staff chaplain position at Ochsner Medical Center - Northshore in Slidell.

“I love the one-on-one connection that comes with being a chaplain. Just the humanity of it and how sacred it is to sit with someone, talk with someone, be present with someone who is at their most vulnerable state,” Tiffanie said. “The honor and privilege to share that space with someone is very sacred to me.”

Donors offer substantial support to spiritual care at Ochsner. The Dolly Ann Johnsen Fund is the largest source of funding for the program, providing two salaries for chaplain residents. The Johnsen family established the fund when they saw that Ochsner had no chaplains who were able to offer the holy sacraments to patients.

“I think Dolly would be proud of us, and the way her money supports us,” Megan said.

In addition to providing salaries to chaplains, the fund has supported the construction of Ochsner’s Interfaith Pastoral Care Center, which serves as a holy space for any kind of (continued on page 15)

To learn more about Ochsner’s pastoral care, watch this video.

(Left) Rev. Megan Alleman, DMin, Supervisor of Clinical Pastoral Education. (Right) Rev. Tiffanie Lyon, Chaplain, OMC - North Shore

A New Frontier for Sports Medicine at Ochsner

The partnership between Dr. James Andrews and the Ochsner Sports Medicine Institute promises to ring in a new era of orthopedic care

By George Menz | Photo: Beth Burris

Orthopedic care at Ochsner Health just got a leg up. James Andrews, MD, will now partner with Ochsner Health to create the Ochsner Andrews Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute. This exclusive five-year partnership will enable Ochsner to provide world-class orthopedic care to athletes and other patients.

With Dr. Andrews’s help, the Institute will expand Ochsner’s accredited orthopedic sports medicine fellowship program and enhance the physical therapy and sports performance protocols and offerings. The partnership started in March 2022.

At Ochsner Baton Rouge’s inaugural Sideline Summer School, Dr. Andrews spoke to the community, outlining his patient philosophy. “Always be openminded,” Dr. Andrews said. “And this is extremely important: listen to the patient.” This is one of the key values that Ochsner has always worked to embody: seeing the patient as a whole person, with insights that matter.

A remarkable figure in sports medicine

Globally known as a leader in the field of sports medicine, Dr. Andrews is passionate about providing care to young athletes at the beginning of their careers, for whom preventing and recovering from injuries is especially important. He’s treated some of the world’s greatest athletes from Michael Jordan

to Drew Brees.

Dr. Andrews is committed to training the next generation of sports medicine professionals, having worked with 700 fellows in orthopedic sports medicine and 80 fellows in primary care sports medicine over the years. A native of Homer, Louisiana, Dr. Andrews founded four different institutions bearing his name in Florida and Alabama, and with this new Ochsner partnership, he feels he has the chance to give back to his home state.

Dr. Andrews expressed admiration for Ochsner’s ongoing commitment to patients in the community.

“Combining the Ochsner and Andrews commitment to excellence in clinical care is an exciting opportunity for all of us,” Dr. Andrews said, citing the innovation and discovery that the partnership would foster.

Notably, Dr. Andrews and Dr. Alton Ochsner are the only two physicians listed in a proclamation by the Louisiana state legislature celebrating the state’s 200 most influential citizens. Both men demonstrate the best values of medicine. Now, Dr. Andrews offers the Ochsner team his expertise to take the program to the next level.

James Andrews, MD, and Mrs. Gayle Benson at Dr. Andrews’s New Orleans visit.

“Our award-winning orthopedic and sports medicine team is excited to partner with Andrews Medicine and gain valuable insights that will allow us to continue growing and improving upon the care our patients and athletes have come to expect and rely on,” said Brian Etier, MD, a board-certified orthopedic and sports medicine surgeon at Ochsner Lafayette General. “Through this partnership, we will be able to enhance our already successful program with a nationally recognized, leading sports medicine service to train the next generation of athletes in Acadiana.”

Ochsner is already home to two physicians trained at institutes founded by Dr. Andrews: Benjamin Guevara, MD, orthopedic surgeon and Physician ViceLead, North Shore Region Orthopedics and Karim Meijer, MD, orthopedic surgeon and Head Team Physician for the New Orleans Saints.

Sports medicine and orthopedics at Ochsner

Ochsner’s Sports Medicine Institute has partnerships with 151 professional, collegiate, high school, middle school and club organizations and includes 186 trainers across the Gulf South region. Ochsner provides the highest level of

specialized care in the region, with more than 60 trained orthopedic surgeons at 40 locations and the latest surgical and rehabilitation equipment. Ochsner’s Hospital for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is the only hospital in Louisiana to have received the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Total

Institute promises to help professionals and weekend warriors alike recover from injuries and get back on the field and to what they love to do as quickly and safely as possible. The team combines unmatched skill and the latest technology to give those suffering from sports injuries the care they need to be able to play again.

Hip and Knee Replacement.

Under the guidance of Deryk Jones, MD, the Ochsner Sports Medicine Institute (OSMI) treats more than 30,000 athletes each year. The team takes a multidisciplinary approach, with trained orthopedic surgeons, athletic trainers, physician assistants, sports medicine assistants, physical therapists and onsite nurses working together to provide patients with comprehensive specialized care. Throughout the process of recovery, the team guides athletes, treating them as a whole person with goals and ambitions that injuries can’t stop.

Now their experience is coming together with Dr. Andrews’s expertise to offer truly transformative care. The Ochsner Andrews Sports Medicine

The work that Dr. Andrews and Ochsner do isn’t just about preventing worstcase scenarios. They aim for the best case: getting athletes back to the comfort and level of performance they had before their injury and focus on injury prevention. For many, it’s not an easy process, but it is rewarding—both for the athletes themselves as well as for the team of medical and sports professionals who help them along the way.

The Institute also hosts innovative research projects pushing the envelope of orthopedic rehabilitation and sports medicine treatment. Physicians at the Ochsner Andrews Sports Medicine Institute have presented research nationally and globally, helping advance the field of sports medicine for the benefit of athletes everywhere.

The partnership is less than a year old, but one thing is for sure: throughout its lifetime, it will offer remarkable care for its patients and leave an enduring impact on the Ochsner community.

To view the announcement of Ochsner’s partnership with Dr. Andrews, please scan this code.

“ Combining the Ochsner and Andrews commitment to excellence in clinical care is an exciting opportunity for all of us. ”

— Dr. James Andrews

Keeping a Family Together During Trying Times

How your support enabled Lauren and Chase Bonaventure to stay at their daughter’s side during her hospitalization

By Anne Paglia | Photo courtesy of Lauren Bonaventure

Colbi Bonaventure made her first trip to Ochsner Health in an air ambulance two years ago. After mistakenly being treated for epilepsy, she experienced drug-induced liver failure, requiring an urgent liver transplant. Colbi was only six.

Since then, Colbi has been treated at Ochsner for POLG, a rare mitochondrial disorder that causes seizures and neurological degeneration. For Lauren and Chase Bonaventure, Colbi’s parents, Ochsner’s Pediatric Family Assistance Fund, which is supported solely by donors, has been instrumental in helping their family to stay together during Colbi’s treatment and overcoming the hurdle of living

two hours away. Your support allowed their family to stay at the Brent House Hotel during Colbi’s 60-day hospitalization and for a five-week period after discharge. “Because of Colbi’s condition and the need for a liver transplant, I lost my job, and my husband had to go on disability to be with her,” Lauren said. “It truly is a godsend program when your life is turned upside down overnight.”

Lauren says Colbi is thriving, despite 20 surgeries in the past two years and ongoing surgery for transplant-related biliary issues. Colbi is not only attending school but also playing with her friends and finding joy in riding her bike. “She is a true warrior, exudes happiness and is the definition of resilience,” Lauren said. Through it all, Ochsner’s team has made Colbi feel “comfortable and cared for,” she added. “We cannot thank Ochsner enough for saving our girl’s life, and giving her every opportunity to continue to thrive. We are eternally grateful. Thank you will never be enough.”

Colbi Bonaventure enjoys riding her bike and playing with friends. Thanks to your support, Colbi’s family was able to stay at the Brent House Hotel during her hospitalization.

“

It truly is a godsend program when your life is turned upside down overnight. ”

— Lauren Bonaventure

New Community Health Center Aims to Promote Health Equity for All

Lafayette location marks Ochsner’s fourth center in Louisiana with others in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport

By Ryan Richard | Photo: Jamie Orillion

In January 2022, Ochsner Lafayette General opened the doors to its newly renovated Community Health Center located at 1317 Jefferson Street. The Community Health Center, which is designated as a historical landmark, has the distinction of being Lafayette’s oldest medical facility, built in 1937. It is also the first site in Lafayette to provide medical care to the Black community as St. Anne’s Infirmary. Currently, it serves the Downtown, Port Rico and Freetown communities of Lafayette— areas that have been sorely lacking healthcare resources.

“Our goal was to work in collaboration, not competition, with other community partners to provide greater access to care,” stated Kevin Green, Ochsner Vice President of Clinic Operations for Community Health Centers. “Meeting patients where they are to help proactively manage any chronic diseases will help us improve overall health and well-being.”

The facility covers 9,700 square feet and features 12 exam rooms staffed by four primary care providers. Ancillary services include a lab draw area, X-ray, EKG and other pointof-care testing.

The $3 million renovation project was supported by the Ochsner Lafayette General Foundation with a lead gift from LHC Group and other corporate support from VieMed, SCP Health, Cardiovascular Institute of the South, Acadian Companies and Gachassin Law Firm.

Solace for the Spirit

service. During Spiritual Care Week in 2022, the program launched an interfaith spirituality service, which will connect staff, patients and other guests, giving them a moment to pause and reflect on their spirituality.

Another fund, the Pastoral Care Endowment, supports one of the five chaplain resident positions at Ochsner and covers tuition for the 13 current students in the program. “The Clinical Pastoral Education Program couldn’t exist without the donor funds,” Megan said. “We wouldn’t have as many students as we have now if we didn’t have those funds.”

These donor funds make it possible for a diverse group of chaplains to provide spiritual care to patients in the most difficult moments of their lives. Tiffanie cited a statistic

With a goal of providing and promoting health equity for all, the Community Health Center was designed to deliver primary care as well as behavioral health and social services, and to ultimately improve Louisiana’s ranking among the top 40 healthiest states by 2030. In this pursuit, the Health Center, its providers and partners embrace opportunities to provide access to care and work together to enhance the overall health and quality of life for all Louisianans.

that only 62% of hospitals nationwide have paid staff chaplains, relying instead on local priests and pastors, who may not be able to speak to patients with diverse spiritual backgrounds.

“The more able we are to get trained, qualified staff chaplains, the better service we’re providing for the diversity of the patients that we have,” said Tiffanie. “We can’t do this without donor support.”

Ultimately, the spiritual care program at Ochsner strives to put the patient first, and give them the individual support they need. In Megan’s words: “Spiritual care is about loving people on their terms.”

Ochsner Lafayette General Community Health Center was the first site to provide medical care to the Black community of Lafayette as St. Anne’s Infirmary.

Big Health Event Promotes Community Wellness and Education

With a free health fair, Ochsner takes steps to improve Louisiana’s health outcomes

By Anne Paglia | Photos: Peter Forest

Raising Louisiana’s national health ranking from last place into the top 40 by 2030 is an immense undertaking, but together with partners, Ochsner Health is up for the challenge. On Saturday, September 17, Ochsner and the Urban League of Louisiana held the Big Health Event at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center to move the state closer toward this goal.

Featuring health screenings, demos, conversations and activities, the free health fair equipped members of the public with resources and knowledge needed to approach healthier living. The event was inspired by the Healthy State by 2030 vision, created by Ochsner and state leaders, to raise Louisiana’s national health standing over the remainder of the decade.

“By offering events like this, we can empower people with education and provide them access to tools for living healthier lives, leading to healthier communities and ultimately to a healthier state,” said Yvens Laborde, MD, Medical Director of Global Health Education, Medical Director of Public Health and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Ochsner.

With approximately 1,300 people in attendance, the Big Health Event was the largest Healthy State gathering to date. As a key organizer of the event, Dr. Laborde oversaw planning and promotion, moderated a panel on men’s health and participated in a Healthy State panel. He was thrilled to share that the event exceeded expectations not only in terms of turnout but also the number

of sponsors and screenings conducted. According to information collected onsite, providers and healthcare workers carried out over 3,400 community health screenings and educational interactions at the Big Health Event.

Identifying diseases early with free screenings Health screenings allowed Ochsner’s team to address a number of chronic diseases “in real time,” Dr. Laborde noted. In addition to common tests like blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, weight and vision, Ochsner offered less common screenings like hip and cognitive assessments and on-site mammograms. One critical test was for peripheral arterial disease (PAD), an often overlooked condition in which plaque builds up in noncoronary arteries and restricts blood flow.

“It is significantly underdiagnosed

because of a lack of education,” said Margaret Messore, RN, internal consultant and former manager of Ochsner’s Heart and Vascular Institute. “We have so many people with comorbidities in the state, but you don’t usually see the patient get tested for PAD unless they present with symptoms. By then, it’s pretty advanced.”

While PAD is often treated with lifestyle changes at its early stages, making early diagnosis critical, it can require more severe interventions like amputation once it advances. Understanding the pressing need for more testing, Margaret and her colleagues Randy Englert, MD, and William Bennett, MD, advocated for adding PAD to the state’s core panel of Healthy State initiative tests. They succeeded, and set up a booth for PAD testing at the event, allowing them to identify people with the disease early on.

Yvens Laborde, MD, (seated center) and the men’s health panel at the Big Health Event.

In addition to testing about 50 people, Margaret and her team were able to educate even more attendees on the disease’s risk factors and its higher prevalence in the Black community.

“We felt that our services, while also being educational, would be helpful to people who had comorbidities like a prior

of Louisiana to promote the event and encourage attendance. A nationwide organization with local chapters, the Urban League supports underserved communities in securing economic selfreliance, power and equity.

“The Urban League and other community institutions already have a well-established reputation for being supportive of the African American community,” Dr. Laborde said. “We were naturally aligned in terms of vision, mission and everything we wanted to accomplish.”

needle in areas where people are most at risk, it has a solidarity effect. It may seem like we’re focusing on a particular group, but in doing so, we become more effective at improving everybody’s overall health and well-being.”

Sparking children’s interest in science

stroke or heart attack,” Margaret said. “Unlike cholesterol and blood pressure screenings, which are commonly done in a health fair setting, PAD testing hasn’t ever been offered.”

Removing barriers to healthy living

Given that 33% of Louisiana residents identify as Black or African American and a number of health issues disproportionately affect this community—including high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke— Ochsner partnered with the Urban League

Event attendees had ample opportunities to learn about health and wellness, but the preventative care services were particularly important. Socioeconomic barriers make it difficult for many Louisianans to receive adequate health care, and community events like the Big Health Event fill a gaping need.

“We constantly discuss the availability of care in the rural areas and the number of people who are either on Medicaid or not insured at all,” Margaret said. “Their access to healthcare is significantly lower.”

“Events like this address inequities in marginalized communities,” Dr. Laborde added. “If you can actually move the

The Big Health Event also offered childfriendly programs like STEM activities, sports and cooking demonstrations to excite them about health and wellness at an early age. At the STEM booth, children could talk to a scientist, assemble a DNA model and understand how genes translate into disease. More than 340 elementary, middle and high school students from nearly 70 schools engaged in the healthcare-focused Kids’ Zone at the event.

“We wanted to expose young people to STEM opportunities that they traditionally don’t have access to, and do so in a fun way with individuals they can identify with,” Dr. Laborde said. “It’s difficult to quantify the outcome of these activities, but some of them showed as much enthusiasm for STEM as they do for basketball.”

Following the success of the first event, Dr. Laborde and other staff at Ochsner are looking to replicate it in other areas throughout the state.

“We wanted to normalize health from a community vantage point, provide resources to empower people and educate them on how to take responsibility for their health and well-being for themselves and their community,” Dr. Laborde said. “We accomplished all those things.”

“ By offering events like this, we can empower people with education and provide them access to tools for living healthier lives, leading to healthier communities and ultimately to a healthier state. ”

— Dr. Yvens Laborde

The Big Health Event featured booths with information from across the system.

Yvens Laborde, MD, speaks at the Big Health Event.

Reduce Your Alcohol Intake Through Zero Proof Drinks

New cocktail book offers delicious non-alcoholic recipes

By Anne Paglia | Photos: Hope Frugé

essential mixology topics like barware, bitters and glassware, providing home mixologists with the knowledge to take their skills to the next level.

“Maybe someone wants to dial back their drinking on weeknights or decided that their body and mind feel better when they’re not drinking alcohol,” Molly said. “Whatever the reason someone is choosing to not drink, we want to provide delicious and beautiful zero proof options for them.”

Ochsner Eat Fit and the Alcohol Free for 40

Challenge

Through Ochsner Eat Fit, Molly and her colleagues work closely with restaurants and food service providers across the state to highlight healthy menu options. They also hold events throughout the year, including the Alcohol Free for 40 Challenge, where participants in Louisiana and across the globe commit to giving up alcohol completely for the 40 days of Lent.

“A lot of people give up something for Lent, whether or not they’re Catholic, especially after Mardi Gras,” Molly said. “We thought: if you’re going to give something up, and that something happens to be alcohol, what if we make it our own experiment?”

If you’ve ever overindulged in alcohol, you’re likely familiar with its unpleasant side effects the day after. Beneath fleeting hangover symptoms like nausea and headaches, however, lie the less obvious consequences of drinking, from poor sleep to heightened anxiety. For many people, taking the occasional break from alcohol can be eye-opening.

Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD, Director of Nutrition with Ochsner Fitness Center and founder of Ochsner Eat Fit, has helped countless people over the last two

decades live a more balanced life with and without alcohol. Now, through her new zero proof cocktail book, she’s showing readers that skipping alcohol doesn’t mean sacrificing tasty, elegant drinks.

“Craft: The Eat Fit Guide to Zero Proof Cocktails,” written by Molly and mixology expert Ethan Skaggs with photos by Ochsner Eat Fit Monroe’s registered dietician Hope Frugé, features over 50 low-sugar, non-alcoholic cocktail recipes that are the perfect treat for anyone trying to drink less. The book also covers

At the start of the challenge, Ochsner Eat Fit invites participants to gather in six regions across the state: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Acadiana, Shreveport, Monroe and the Northshore. Ochsner teams track health metrics for each participant, including inflammatory markers, liver enzymes, lipids, weight, body fat and muscle mass. They also take close-up photos of participants’ faces to reveal any changes in their skin and eyes. At the end of the challenge, participants return for updated metrics to see how reducing alcohol intake has impacted their bodies.

Zero proof French 75 from “Craft: The Eat Fit Guide to Zero Proof Cocktails” by Molly Kimball and Ethan Skaggs

By Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD with Ethan Skaggs Edited by Melanie Warner Spencer

The data on physical and internal health are profound, but Molly notes that the less measurable effects often leave the biggest impression. “The feedback we get time after time, and also what aligns with the science on alcohol, is that participants experience less anxiety. They’re handling stressful situations better and find that they are more patient with their families. A lot of times they say, ‘My family likes me a lot more,’” Molly laughed.

In addition to lowering anxiety, cutting out alcohol can improve your quality of sleep. As a sedative, alcohol makes you more tired as you start to wind down, but it disrupts your sleep cycle later in the night when it metabolizes. Participants find that while they might have a difficult time falling asleep during the first week or two of the challenge, their quality of sleep improves tremendously after they adjust.

Participants also report higher energy levels and greater productivity. With less time in the evening spent drinking—and more alertness in the morning without post-drinking grogginess—they tend to get more done. “There are all these other benefits people experience that aren’t measurable,” Molly said. “Tapping into and being aware of them can motivate someone to continue with the challenge.”

Filling a need for healthy alcohol substitutes

During the kickoff of the 2021 Alcohol Free for 40 Challenge, Molly hosted a virtual zero proof cocktail demo with Ethan. Afterward, Ethan asked Molly if she would consider doing a book on cocktails that are both low-sugar and no-alcohol. She was sold.

The pair traveled to local restaurants and asked bartenders for their best cocktails. Then Ethan reworked the recipes to meet zero proof and Eat Fit standards, often swapping in Eat Fit’s simple syrup recipe made with natural, plant-based sweeteners.

“There are a lot of keto cocktail books but they have alcohol in them, and there are a lot of mocktail books but they’re really sugary,” Molly said. “There was an opportunity to provide delicious, satisfying drinks that are zero proof and low or no sugar.”

Expanding alcohol-free awareness in the Gulf South

“When we talked to our publisher about the idea a year and a half ago, the zero proof movement was just beginning, especially here in the South,” Molly said. “Now you can buy more non-alcoholic beer and zero proof spirits in stores.”

New interest in the zero proof movement has also led to a blossoming Alcohol Free for 40 community. This year, Molly expects their in-person turnout to increase from 500 to 700 people, and thousands more to join virtually.

“We do a lot with Eat Fit and our work with restaurants and chefs is incredibly fulfilling, but Alcohol Free for 40 is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done,” Molly said. “Every year there are stories that bring tears to our eyes.”

Some participants view Alcohol Free for 40 as a fun annual challenge, recruiting their friends and supporting each other

through text chains and meetups. For others, it’s the springboard for a significant lifestyle change.

“Maybe they had a doubt in their mind that they had an unhealthy relationship with alcohol and this was the catalyst they needed to really take a closer look at it,” Molly said. “Now their lives are completely changed because of it. It’s been a really cool thing to be involved in. To have this book stem from the challenge has been a beautiful thing for us, too.”

“Craft: The Eat Fit Guide to Zero Proof Cocktails” is available at local booksellers and Barnes and Noble locations across the state, as well as baby stores, home stores, Amazon and Ochsner locations.

To see Molly in her own words, scan this code to watch a video.

“ Whatever the reason someone is choosing to not drink, we want to provide delicious and beautiful zero proof options for them. ”

—

Molly

Kimball, RD, CSSD

Molly Kimball is a registered dietitian and nutrition journalist whose new book “Craft: the Eat Fit Guide to Zero Proof Cocktails” is now available. Photo: Teddie Taylor

The Eat Fit Guide

to Zero Proof Cocktails

The cover of Molly’s new book “Craft”.

Ochsner Establishes New Patrick Neuroscience Center

A transformational gift from Robert J. and Debra H. Patrick enables Ochsner to build the first freestanding neuroscience facility of its kind in the Gulf South

By Anne Paglia

With its nationally ranked Neuroscience Institute, Ochsner Health is already a leader in neuroscience care. But thanks to a recent donation from Robert J. and Debra H. Patrick, the Neuroscience Institute will have a new, dedicated home.

The Robert J. and Deborah H. Patrick Neuroscience Center will consist of a 132,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility near Ochsner Medical Center –New Orleans on Jefferson Highway. It will bring Ochsner’s 100 neuroscience specialists, as well as 25 different centers, clinics and programs, under one roof.

“The goal for this Neuroscience Center is to bring the most innovative and advanced multi-disciplinary neurological care to the Gulf South,” said C.J. Bui, MD, System Chair of Neurosurgery and Co-director of

the Ochsner Neuroscience Institute. ”Our vision will now become a reality through the support of the Patrick family and a very generous community of donors.”

The Neuroscience Institute already offers some of the most cutting-edge diagnostics and treatment options in the Gulf South. It is also the only neuroscience group in the region to receive a national neurology and neurosurgery ranking from U.S. News & World Report, and will continue its legacy of innovation by becoming the only freestanding facility of its kind between Houston and Atlanta.

The new center will feature an innovation hub, a neurological rehabilitation center with aquatic therapies, a healing art garden and a

creative therapy space featuring music, art and meditation. The center’s offerings are designed to nourish the minds, bodies and souls of both patients and families. Through expanded education and increased social support, the Patrick Neuroscience Center will emphasize healing the whole person, taking all factors that influence health, wellness and disease into consideration.

“Neurological diseases are complex and require a multi-disciplinary team,” said Richard Zweifler, MD, System Chair of Neurology and Co-Director of the Ochsner Neuroscience Institute. “Thanks to the Patrick family, our neuroscience teams will have the ability to treat patients in one location, providing

Richard Zweifler, MD, Pete November, Warner Thomas, CJ Bui, MD, Robert Patrick, and Paul Flower at the announcement of the new building. Photo: Beth Burris

convenient access to neurological care.”

Robert Patrick has served as an Ochsner board member for the past decade. The family’s gift will allow long-time plans for the Neuroscience Center, and donations of many other local benefactors, to come to fruition.

Responding to high disease burden in the Gulf South

Louisiana is in great need of a dedicated neuroscience facility. According to CDC data, the state has one of the highest death rates from Alzheimer’s disease in the country, trailing only Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Alzheimer’s is also the sixth leading cause of death in the state. The new Patrick Neuroscience Center seeks to address Louisiana’s outsized disease burden with the first and only multi-specialty early onset dementia clinic in the Gulf South.

Physicians at the Neuroscience Institute treat both adults and children for a range of neurological conditions, from headaches to Parkinson’s disease. They have expertise across a number of fields, including neurology, neurosurgery, neurocritical care, neuroradiology and physical medicine and rehabilitation.

With the new facility, the Neuroscience Institute will expand its research and teaching capabilities, furthering innovation in care and helping to retain and recruit top talent. Ochsner intends to break ground in 2023 and finish the facility by 2025.

“With this transformational gift, we

will further strengthen our capacity to care for those in need and make great strides in advancing the treatment of neurological conditions,” said Warner Thomas, former President and CEO of

Ochsner Health.

“This will be a place where breakthroughs happen,” Dr. Zweifler added. “More importantly, it will be a place where hope lives.”

The Patrick Neuroscience Center is breaking ground in early 2023. Image: Rozas-Ward Architects

Billy’s Place, named in honor of the late Billy Legier, will offer patients and families access to music, art and many other integrative therapies. Image: Rozas-Ward Architects

The Parker Family NeuroHub, generously named by Jeff and Connie Parker, will be a innovation center in which physicians, industry partners and researchers come together to create new technologies and treatments to target complex neurological diseases. Image: Rozas-Ward Architects

How Donor Support Gave More Than Medical Assistance to a Trapped Patient

A patient found herself trapped in her home. The Patient Assistance Fund helped her get out and back on her feet

By George Menz

The Patient Assistance Fund at Ochsner Health exists to provide hope and support to patients beyond what medical care itself can provide. There are countless stories of lives changed by this fund—and Elle’s story is no different.

Elle, whose name has been changed to protect her privacy, is a 73-year-old woman living with several diseases including: type 2 diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease and major depressive disorder. After multiple hospital admissions, Elle became frail, and moved from her home into a 300-square-foot apartment. However, her belongings remained unpacked in boxes for almost a year.

She found herself trapped inside her home between boxes and bulky furniture, unable to cook her own meals or reach her medications in the refrigerator. She began to suffer from depression, and her blood sugar management suffered, as well. Home health aides measured her blood sugar at over 500 mg/dL—a normal range is around 140 mg/dL.

The most crucial thing, though, was that Elle herself knew that something was wrong. “She said, ‘This isn’t me, I’m capable of doing better, I just can’t do it,’” said Kathy Jo Carstarphen, MD, MPH, MA, who treated Elle. “I believed her.”

Dr. Carstarphen knew something had to be done. She reached out to a specialist in hoarding disorders with whom she had worked before. After an evaluation, the expert concluded that Elle wasn’t suffering from hoarding disorder and experiencing difficulty parting with her possessions. In fact, Elle was confined because she wasn’t able to clean her apartment by herself.

The expert recommended some simple, straightforward solutions, like cleaning out excess furniture. But Elle couldn’t pay for these services on her own, and insurance wouldn’t cover them. “It would cost thousands of dollars,” Dr. Carstarphen said.

That’s where the Patient Assistance Fund came in. It took eight months for Dr. Carstarphen to secure the necessary funds, but throughout the process, her case managers offered reassurance. “They never told me to go away,” Dr. Carstarphen said. “They said, ‘Be patient, there’s been another COVID surge.’”

After months of patience, Dr. Carstarphen was able to

secure the money that Elle needed. The Fund paid for an organizer and laborers who cleaned and organized the apartment in February 2022. They did more than just clean up: they brought non-slip mats into the bathroom and gifted Elle with kitchen essentials and a utility cart to help with laundry and groceries.

Thanks to the help that the Patient Assistance Fund made possible, Elle’s diabetes is back under control. She’s picked up her paintbrush again—one of her paintings hangs in Dr. Carstarphen’s office—and leads an active social life, even attending New Orleans’s Jazz & Heritage Festival. Although her chronic illness remains, she’s happier and healthier.

“When she comes to the clinic, she’s walking,” Dr. Carstarphen said. “Everything in her wheelhouse to fix and control has been done. Her quality of life has improved.”

Social determinants can have as much of an impact on health as pathogens. The Patient Assistance Fund makes it possible to address these factors. Aside from the incredible benefit to patients, it also supports doctors who feel powerless in the face of complicated health situations.

“In my opinion, burnout happens when you have moral injury,” Dr. Carstarphen said. “You see a need, you want to fix it, but you can’t. When you give providers the autonomy and ability to address patient needs, even when those needs aren’t purely medical, it protects them from burnout and improves outcomes for the community.”

A painting by Elle, now sitting proudly on Dr. Carstarphen’s desk. Photo: Dr. Kathy Jo Carstarphen

Kathy Jo Carstarphen, MD, MPH, MA, Sr. Physician, Medvantage.

Photo: Stephen Legendre

Glimpses

Giving Gratitude to Ochsner Physicians

Ochsner Health treasures its talented medical students, residents, physicians and alumni. Recently, the Ochsner Alumni Association and various medical student groups held events to celebrate the efforts and accomplishments of Ochsner doctors and doctors-in-training.

On October 1, the Ochsner Medical Student Association celebrated Fall Ball, its biggest formal event of the year sponsored by the Ochsner Alumni Association, on the Creole Queen paddle boat.

On October 8, the Ochsner Radiology Student Interest Group hosted the Southeastern Interventional Radiology Medical Student Symposium. The event brought together guest faculty and students from programs around the country for a weekend of education and networking.

On October 15, the Ochsner Alumni Association held its annual Boogaloo on the Avenue. Check out some photos from these events.

The Ochsner Radiology Student Interest Group hosted the Southeastern Interventional Radiology Medical Student Symposium on October 8th, 2022. Left to Right: Connor Solan (MS4; Vice President of Radiology Interest Group), Eric Assid (MS4), Dr. Andrew Steven (Faculty Sponsor of Radiology Interest Group),

Group),

To learn more or support any initiative mentioned in this issue, please scan this code.

The annual Fall Ball for Ochsner/UQ students and their guests, sponsored by the Ochsner Alumni Association, was held on October 1, 2022, on the Creole Queen paddle boat. Anthony Reyes (MS4), Emma Overmyer (MS4), Ellen Giddings (MS3), Hannah Rosenthal (MS3), Rohit Rajendran (MS4), Helen Zito (Director of Alumni Affairs), Adrienne Burgin (MS4), Priya Puri (MS4), Ansley Joannes (MS3), Mike Duggan (MS4), Babu Zia (MS4), Haley Makuch (MS3). Photo: Riverview Photography

Dana Smetherman, MD, Dennis Kay, MD, Mrs. Maria Kay, Isabel Cristina “Cristy” Milburn, MD, Ms. Sophia Milburn and James “Jim” Milburn, MD, at the Boogaloo on the Avenue costume party for the Ochsner Alumni Association hosted by Drs. Milburn.

Photo: Riverview Photography

Savannah Dennis (MS4; President of Radiology Interest

Robert Boothe (MS4; Treasurer of Radiology Interest Group), and Sean Robinson (MS3). Photo: Helen Zito

Building a Legacy:

The Rita and William Mitchell, MD, Donor Wall

Today, Ochsner Health is one of the leading destinations for cancer care across the Gulf South with the ability to deliver high-quality cancer services and advanced clinical research. For patients and families visiting Ochsner for the first time, the Rita and William Mitchell, MD, Donor Wall is an immediate reminder of the compassion and spirit of service that is foundational to this hospital.

The wall, which acknowledges donors for their generous contributions to the Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center, honors beloved physician William Mitchell, MD. He served his Gulf South community with kindness, compassion and a commitment to building up the people around him for almost 40 years—with his loving wife, Rita, by his side.

For $5,000 or $10,000 donations, donors’ names are added to this monument with a small or large plaque, respectively.